MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Siew-Lan Ang group project:
Development of POMC and NPY neurons in the arcuate nucleus
The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis, i.e. maintaining the body’s status quo. It regulates multiple physiological functions including body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue and circadian rhythms. The rodent hypothalamus is located in the ventral diencephalon and is composed of multiple nuclei corresponding to dense group of neuronal cell bodies. The hypothalamus contains neuroendocrine neurons that release hormones into the blood to control the function of the anterior pituitary. Other types of neurons project to the CNS, including neurons located in the arcuate nucleus that respond to peripheral hormones and regulate energy balance.
Two neuronal subtypes regulating energy balance in the arcuate nucleus are POMC and NPY neurons. We have identified a number of basic helix loop helix transcription factors that regulate the development of these neuronal subtypes. Loss of function studies indicates that these transcription factors regulate the specification and differentiation of these neuronal subtypes. We are also using genetic fate mapping studies to determine the contribution of different types of progenitors to these neurons and also ventromedial hypothalamic neurons. In the long term, we are interested in deciphering the molecular determinants specifying NPY and POMC neuronal identity in the hypothalamus using genetic, molecular and cellular approaches.
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POMC+ and NPY+ neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus of mouse embryos at embryonic days 17.5
Ang group
Recent publications
Research projects
- Identifying gene networks regulating mDA progenitor specification and differentiation
- Development of POMC and NPY neurons in the arcuate nucleus
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